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What are the "Liturgy of the Hours"?

The Liturgy of the Hours is also known as the "Divine Office" or the "Breviary". Clergy and religious are required to pray it every day as representatives of the Church. The Laity are also encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as well, and thereby unite their voices and intentions to those of the whole Church.

The prayer is basically a compilation of readings from Scripture, especially the Psalms, and other various hymns, prayers, and spiritual writings collected from numerous Church Fathers, Saints, and Popes. These readings are organized day by day according to the liturgical seasons of the Church. Each day is subdivided into separate "hours": morning prayer, evening prayer, night prayer, etc. Because of this intricate organization, something that developed over a period of centuries, an individual has the special opportunity to be guided throughout the year by these readings and immerse themselves into the liturgical mysteries of the Church.

Consider this thorough explanation from the Catechism: "The celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours demands not only harmonizing the voice with the praying heart, but also a deeper "understanding of the liturgy and of the Bible, especially of the Psalms. The hymns and litanies of the Liturgy of the Hours integrate the prayer of the psalms into the age of the Church, expressing the symbolism of the time of day, the liturgical season, or the feast being celebrated. Moreover, the reading from the Word of God at each Hour (with the subsequent responses) and readings from the Fathers and spiritual masters at certain Hours, reveal more deeply the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, assist in understanding the psalms, and prepare for silent prayer. The lectio divina, where the Word of God is so read and meditated that it becomes prayer, is thus rooted in the liturgical celebration. The Liturgy of the Hours, which is like an extension of the Eucharistic celebration, does not exclude but rather in a complementary way calls forth the various devotions of the People of God, especially adoration and worship of the Blessed Sacrament." [CCC 1176 - 78]

You can join us for morning prayer before daily Mass, Monday to Thursday at 8:30 AM.